The Detroit Tigers have signed free-agent reliever Jose Valverde to a minor league contract, according to MLB.com.

Valverde, 35, closed for the Tigers from 2010-2012 before the team seemingly cut ties with him following the 2012 World Series. However, with Detroit now facing ninth-inning uncertainty and with Valverde still available, a reunion has become reality.

Jose Valverde soon could be closing again in Detroit. (AP Photo)

"We figured we have nothing to lose and he's open-minded to it. But I'm sure he wouldn't have agreed to it a few months ago," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski told reporters, according to The Detroit News. "If someone had said to me on Nov. 10 that Papa Grande would sign a Triple-A contract and come to camp to show you that he's the best guy, I would have said 'yes' at that time, too."

Valverde struggled late in the 2012 season and postseason and eventually was removed from the closer role. In 67 regular season appearances last season, he was 3-4 with a 3.78 ERA and 35 saves (and five blown saves). In four postseason appearances, he suffered one blown save and posted a 30.38 ERA.

In 2011, however, Valverde converted all 49 of his save chances in the regular season and all three of his save chances in the postseason.

The Tigers had planned to use rookie Bruce Rondon as their closer this season, but he was optioned to Class AAA late in spring training after struggling in Grapefruit League play.

At that point, Detroit announced it would use a closer-by-committee approach to start the season—with Phil Coke, Octavio Dotel, Al Alburquerque and Joaquin Benoit among those sharing the ninth-inning responsibilities. That approach worked well in the team’s season-opening win Monday, but Coke blew a two-run ninth-inning lead in Wednesday’s loss.

In time, Valverde likely will re-enter the mix.

"If he progresses, he could come back and pitch for our big league club," Dombrowski told the newspaper. "We're not just signing him as a favor."